'I wasn't asleep' when they clearly were! Does everyone do this?

[Hurryupandleave]

We're all a bit prone to an occasional nap on the sofa when we're watching tv in our house, which is fine, we're a busy family and a snooze is nice sometimes. So why can none of us admit to it?! I just nudged DH (who was snoring) and asked if he wanted to go to bed and he immediately said 'I wasn't asleep', and I know both DD and I do the same if woken from an unintentional doze. But why, and does everyone do it or do we have some sort of weird sleep denial thing going on? Lighthearted in case I need to clarify, this is MN after all

My dad used to do this and insist he was “resting his eyes” 🙄😁

DH does this. I point out that he was snoring. Loudly.
The sod always stirs when I turn the TV off/ over, yet routinely dozes off to bang, bang shoot 'em up, kaboom films, so I'm left listening to a load of noisy tripe wondering if I can turn it off yet as he'll instist that he was still watching/ listening.

I think they probably genuinely think they weren't sleeping! I often think I didn't drift off but an hour has passed so it seems I did

My husband does this! So annoying 🙈🤣

I am also notoriously sleep resistant.

It is almost like I see it as a weakness to be tired so I would for some reason rather deny that I am a bit sleepy already and actually ready to go to bed and rather fall asleep part way through whatever I have insisted I really want to stay up and watch.

A good friend of mine does this all the time.
During the lockdowns, as we were zooming quite frequently into the wee hours, shed fall asleep sat in front of her computer, even snore, and then, when she would wake up, shed say she was just resting her eyes! It was hilarious and we started filming her asleep, as proof she was definitely sleeping!

Also, many years ago, I was dating this guy and he slept over. The next day he said he didnt sleep a single second... However, he had. Very loudly! I was awake because he was snoring! 😂

@PauliesWalnuts

Yes, my DDad also said this!😄

" Gosh, if you're making noises like that when you're awake maybe you should see a doctor"

Works quite well I've found.

Didn't see a doc, but did stop bullshitting me :)

Whenever I do this which admittedly is rare I have no problem saying yep, i'm tired of whatever. DH does the denial thing, pissed me off.

It isn't denial or lying. Upon changing states of consciousness, one often isn't consciously aware that they were just asleep. It can be confusing when you first wake up or get woken up as to what exactly is happening. Same as coming to from a state of unconsciouness or sedation. Many people misperceive their state of sleep. Especially depending on what sleep state they were in.

My husband does this , I never fall asleep on the settee because I have insomnia , it’s bad enough trying to sleep at night .

According to my husband he gets about 2 hours sleep a year. 🙄

I can hear him snoring in the other room, but the next day I have to hear about how he was awake all night/didn’t get any sleep/is sooooo tired…….

Both of my parents do this!!

Sounds like sleep apnoea.

That would genuinely make him very tired.

The male half of a couple we used to stay with now and then, would invariably nod off - with the remote in his left hand on the arm of the chair. But if you gently tried to take it, to change from whatever crap programme he’d chosen (he always did the choosing) his grip would tighten and he’d wake instantly. He was a very controlling type anyway though.

@Loria yes, but he refuses to acknowledge it or do anything about it.

Laughing because I did this last night watching a film, even though I’m pretty sure I was snoring!!! I just didn’t want to leave the room because I was lazy or the film even though I’d missed tons!

Sometimes it will be that someone genuinely didn't realise they were asleep. I struggle to fall asleep anywhere so don't do this on the sofa - and no-one had ever contradicted me. But, when living in a shared house, I have had it happen that, having woken in the early hours and checked the time, I hadn't realised I'd fallen asleep again and was really confused as to why my housemate was leaving for uni in the middle of the night. On that occasion I had literally slept for a couple of hours and not been aware of it. So I can easily believe people haven't realised when they've only dozed off for a few minutes.

My husband sometimes does this when he's snoring so loudly. Really annoying

He sounds like a delight!

@blahblahblah1654 , yes, I can’t say I was broken-hearted when he finally shuffled off his mortal coil. His wife is a different matter though - I only really put up with him for her (very long suffering) sake.